Oakley Newport Beach Pro: Day 5

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 2-Star Oakley Newport Beach Pro ran the Quarterfinals this morning and the final 16 competitors tore into the clean two-to-three foot (1 metre) barrels on offer at Newport Beach’s 56th Street.

The second event on the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series (an ASP North America Specialty Series), the Oakley Newport Beach Pro was greeted with sunny skies and clean conditions today with an all-star group aligning themselves for the big finish tomorrow.

Nathan Yeomans (San Clemente, CA), 27, two-time defending Oakley Newport Beach Pro Champion and 2006 Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series Champion, continued to be a standout today, surfing powerfully on both his forehand and backhand to advance through to tomorrow’s Semifinals.

“The waves are pretty fun out there this morning,” Yeomans said. “It’s really wedgey and there are good peaks coming in all over the place. I just tried to get busy straight off the bat and I found a couple good lefts before I got my right and that put me into good position to take out the heat. I’m excited to be in the Semifinals tomorrow and hopefully I can keep my run going here in Newport.”

Micah Byrne (Huntington Beach, CA), 26, elected to stick to his backhand today, smashing the running lefthanders down the beach to amass the day’s high heat total of a 15.83 out of a possible 20 and match his Semifinals berth of last year.

“I’ve just been trying to be much more relaxed in heats lately as I don’t typically do too well when I’m stressed out,” Byrne said. “I made the Semis here last year and I’m hoping to go one better this season. The waves have been pretty fun so I hope they stick around for tomorrow’s finish.”

“It was really interesting out there with only three guys,” Mellem said. “You would think it is easier but you’re scrambling a little bit more because you don’t want to be the one guy who’s ousted. There weren’t really any waves at the beginning so we were all scratching for scores at the end.”

Darrell Goodrum (Leucadia, CA), 23, opened up the day strong, slotting himself into deep forehand barrels to net a 14.50 out of a possible 20 and advance through to the Semifinals.

“I noticed that the lefts coming off the jetty were pinching a bit too much so I moved down the beach and it worked out,” Goodrum said. “I was able to grab a couple of barrels and that was enough get me through. Stoked to get through to the Semis.”